Colombia Digital Nomad Guide 2026: Income Proof & Rules
Colombia Digital Nomad Visa 2026 – Income Requirements & Eligibility
In 2026, Colombia increased its minimum monthly wage (SMMLV) to COP 1,750,905, representing an increase of approximately 23%. As a result, applicants for the Colombia Digital Nomad Visa must now demonstrate a minimum monthly foreign income of three (3) times the SMMLV, equivalent to COP 5,252,715 per month. This higher threshold has made financial documentation quality and consistency a key approval factor.
The Colombia Digital Nomad Visa is a Visitor (Type V) visa that allows eligible foreigners to live in Colombia while working remotely for companies or clients located outside the country. The visa is governed by Resolución 5477 de 2022 , which defines both eligibility criteria and activity restrictions.
This visa does not permit employment or paid activities with Colombian companies. Applicants whose plans involve local employment or business activity should instead review alternatives such as a Colombia work visa or an investment-based visa category.
Approval outcomes are heavily influenced by how clearly applicants demonstrate compliance with income rules, remote work eligibility, and document formatting.
Errors in translations, inconsistent financial statements, or unclear employer letters are among the most common causes of delays and refusals.
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What Documents Are Required For Colombia Digital Nomad Visitor Visa?
The following documents are required for type V digital nomad visa
- Passport Photocopy: A photocopy of the first page of your valid passport showing your biographical data. The photocopy can be either in color or black and white.
- Proof of Legal Entry: A photocopy of the page of your passport showing last stamp of entry or departure of Colombia.
- Letter from a Foreign Company: Letter in Spanish or English, issued by one or several foreign companies for which the foreigner provides his services, indicating the type of relationship and the type of remuneration received by the applicant. If you have a contract with said company, provide it, or demonstrate that you are a partner or co-owner of a company abroad and a letter indicating that your work for the company is carried out remotely.
- Motivational Letter: In the case of entrepreneurs, submit a motivational letter explaining your entrepreneurship project and the financial and human resources you have or hope to have for your enterprise;
- Bank Statements: Demonstrate through bank statements having income equivalent to three (3) Current Minimum Legal Monthly Wages (SMLMV) in the last 3 months: 750 USD APRX.
- Proof of Health Insurance: Health policy with coverage in the national territory against all risks in case of accident, illness, maternity, disability, hospitalization, death or repatriation, for the time foreseen for their stay in the country.
- Passport photo: Passport style face photo with a white background, sized at 3 cm width X 4 cm height, maximum size of 300 kb jpg file for online application.
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Last Paragraph in Digital Nomad Visa Requirements Reads:
Los nómadas digitales, trabajadores remotos y emprendedores digitales de nacionalidades que no requieren visa para corta estancia, establecidas mediante Resolución. podran ingresar sin visa y permanecer en Colombia con Permiso de lngreso otorgado por la autoridad migratoria, de acuerdo con la norma vigente; siempre que su permanencia en el pais no genere pages de empresas colombianas y su periodo de permanencia no sea superior a 90 días que podra extenderse hasta maximo 180 dias continuos o discontinues ano calendario.
English Translation of Colombian Digital Nomad Visa Restrictions: This visa is only valid for persons who may enter Colombia with a “tourist permission stamp”, which means you can enter through the airport with a stamp and no visa. Finally, in yellow the visa is clearly limited to a maximum of 180 days in a year. Exactly it reads “One PTP extension per entry; total stay cannot exceed 180 days (continuous or discontinuous) in the same calendar year. ” This is a common limit for many visitor visas. There is much misinformation from other visa agencies which only want to make money off of this visa. This is the official law. Again, this visitor visa limit in the last part of the paragraph is very common with other visitor visas. The dense legal terms are confusing but if you compare to other visitor visas you see the pattern and understand the limits.
Colombia Digital Nomad Visa – Frequently Asked Questions
Who can apply for the Colombia Digital Nomad Visa?
The visa is intended for foreign nationals who work remotely for companies, clients, or businesses located outside Colombia. Most successful applicants are from visa-exempt countries that normally enter Colombia as tourists without requiring a short-stay visa. Applicants must show that their work can be performed entirely online and that no Colombian employer or client is involved.
What is the minimum income required for the digital nomad visa in 2026?
Applicants must demonstrate a stable monthly income equal to at least three times Colombia’s minimum wage. For 2026, this amount is COP 5,252,715 per month. Income is typically proven through recent bank statements showing consistent deposits from foreign sources. Marginal or inconsistent income is a frequent reason for application review delays.
How long is the Colombia Digital Nomad Visa valid?
The visa may be granted for up to two (2) years. The exact validity period is discretionary and determined by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. This visa does not lead to permanent residency, and time spent under this visa does not count toward residency or citizenship eligibility.
Can I work for Colombian companies while holding this visa?
No. The Digital Nomad Visa strictly prohibits paid activity with Colombian companies
or individuals. Any income generated inside Colombia is unauthorized under this visa. Those seeking local employment must apply for an appropriate Colombian work visa instead.
How long does the visa application process take?
Processing time begins only once a complete application is submitted with all required documents properly uploaded, translated, and legalized if applicable.
When the file is complete, most applications are processed within 2 weeks to 1 month. If additional documentation is requested, processing may extend another 2–4 weeks after the new documents are submitted. Total timelines can therefore extend to several months.
Is health insurance required for the digital nomad visa?
Yes. Applicants must present private travel or international medical insurance covering healthcare risks and repatriation for the duration of the visa. In many cases, visa validity is limited to the insurance coverage period. After arrival, some applicants later obtain Colombian health plans, but initial coverage remains mandatory. Assistance identifying compliant insurance policies is available through Visas by James when needed.
Can family members be included as dependents?
Yes. Spouses and dependent children may be included as beneficiaries. Apostilled and translated civil documents are required. Dependents are not authorized to work in Colombia under this visa and must maintain valid health coverage throughout their stay.
Can the digital nomad visa be renewed?
There is no automatic renewal. Applicants must submit a new visa application at the end of the validity period. In recent cases, repeat applications have faced increased scrutiny, particularly where applicants remained in Colombia continuously. Some individuals transition to other visa categories depending on long-term plans.
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What We See in Real Visa Applications
In practice, Digital Nomad Visa applications are reviewed with a high level of discretion. Even applicants who meet the published financial and documentary requirements may receive additional information requests or refusals based on profile evaluation.
Common Challenges Our Clients Face in 2026
The most frequent issues involve unclear proof of remote work, inconsistent income records, and documentation that does not align with Colombian formal standards. Applicants with non-technical professions or loosely defined freelance activity have experienced higher scrutiny in recent cases.
Delays are also common when documents require apostilles or certified translations. Exchange-rate fluctuations can further complicate income assessments when earnings are close to the minimum threshold. Proper preparation before submission significantly reduces these risks.
Practical Guidance for Colombia Digital Nomad Visa Applicants
Applicants should begin preparation several weeks in advance, ensuring all income documents clearly exceed the minimum threshold and originate from foreign sources. Employer or client letters should be detailed, recent, and explicitly confirm remote work authorization.
Special attention should be paid to translations and document formatting. Files uploaded incorrectly or missing required elements are a common cause of delays. Those planning long-term stays should also consider future visa strategy early, especially if transitioning to another visa category may become necessary.
Our Path to Becoming Colombia's Leading Visa Agency
James Lindzey founded ColombiaVisas.com after relocating to Colombia in 2005. With experience as a private investigator and paralegal in the U.S., James brought a strong legal background to Colombia's complex visa system.
Today, Visas by James—part of Colombia Legal & Associates SAS—is a top provider of visa and legal services for expats. We specialize in U.S. immigration services for Colombians migrating to the USA, and Expats from countries around the world migrating to Colombia.
In addition to our visa services, our agency offers a full range of legal and accounting services to our clients. We can better assist clients with document collection services for documents located in the United States because of James's prior legal experience there.
We also maintain contact with over 800 notaries, registries, and Colombian courts to obtain any documents required in Colombia.
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Important Legal Disclaimer
The information on this page is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice, immigration advice, or a guarantee of any specific visa outcome.
Colombian visa requirements, procedures, government fees, and internal criteria change frequently and may vary depending on your personal situation and the policies in force at the time of your application.
Always consult a qualified professional to receive advice tailored to your individual case. Reading this website does not create an attorney–client relationship with Colombia Legal & Associates SAS, Visas by James, or any member of our team.